Politics of Elections and Autocracy in Pakistan: Apprising the Electoral Process during Zia ul Haq’s Regime

Abstract

This paper seeks to identify a gradual shift from a position of \autocratically governed structure of Pakistani state to semi-democratic polity. In Pakistan, it took twenty three years for the first general elections to take place in 1970 however electoral politics failed to sustain itself as the election in 1977 were alleged ‘rigged’, hence the whole polit8cal system was de-railed. In that perspective the politics, pursued by Zia regime with respect to the elections are critically apprised in this study. The elections of 1977 left behind an ominous legacy, a brutalized and bruised country. The adage ‘big people commit big mistakes’ sit precisely on Bhutto, the nonchalant way that he managed elections provides an ample testimony. Even without allowing whatever indiscretion came to pass on 7th March, by all accounts PPP would have won comfortable majority and that too hands down. Nevertheless in a bid to secure two-third majority in the National Assembly at least at 30 to 40 polling stations the ballot boxes were stuffed, which proved to be an exercise in utter futility. ‘Overzealous civil servants, who were supposed to be custodians of law, went over board in polling day rigging.